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Probe urged into Nigeria police killing of mourners during Shia religious ritual

Nigerian police fire teargas at mourners marking the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), in the northern state of Kaduna, Nigeria, on August 22, 2020. (Photo from IMN's Twitter account)

Danjuma Abdullahi
Press TV Kaduna

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has sent a petition to the Nigerian Inspector General of Police calling for a probe into the killing of its members and the setting ablaze of a police patrol vehicle in an attempt to pin it on the movement.

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria says its members were engaged in prayers and recitation of the Qur’an, marking the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Shia Imam and the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), when a contingent of the Nigerian police attacked the gathering.

The mourners were assembled in a Kaduna neighborhood called Hayin Malam Bello. The Islamic Movement says the three people killed have already been buried while the 16 people seriously injured are receiving medical attention in a discreet location.

The Islamic Movement said the destruction of property belonging to Zakzaky supporters by the police continued into the night.
The Islamic Movement said the families of its members whose houses have been burnt have been moved to other safe locations for fear of persecution. It called on its members to remain calm and law-abiding as it seeks redress through peaceful means. The police did not respond to Press TV’s request for comment on this incident.

The Islamic Movement said Ashura is a time of religious rite performed by Shia Muslims all over the world. Members of the Islamic Movement said Ashura mourning is a right protected by the Nigerian constitution and the UN and African Charter on Human Rights.
The victims of this and other instances of violence expressed bewilderment that the security forces are attacking and killing them for performing their religious activities.


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